The linen closet is on our second floor between the girls' bedrooms. It's a nice spot because all of the bedrooms are up there as well as all the bathrooms with showers/tubs. I can keep the hand towels for the bathroom on the first floor in the cabinet down there, so it's no big deal. I'm not posting these photos to show off or anything (although I am a little bit proud of my ability to organize while on maternity leave with my first kid! I felt so busy, and now I wonder how I wasn't bored stiff!) but I'm posting them to go along with the next lesson for Housekeeping 101. Here is a photo of my linen closet (there are empty spots on the shelf because at the time I was doing laundry and needed to iron the sheets before putting them back):
Here is a close up of one of the labels I installed. I purchased them from MarthaStewart.com back in spring 2002. I think I have two extra sets around here somewhere. If I can find them, I might be persuaded to part with them! They have been a huge help in keeping me organized, and I recommend some type of labelling system for your own linen closet.
I have also designated a couple things just for guests. One is a spot on the top shelf just for guest towels. They are put together in sets and a ribbon is tied around each set so a guest can just grab a set and go without having to search for towels or washcloths on their own. I also have a first aid kit and a guest toiletries kit labelled on the shelf below them. That way we can always find the necessary items for boo-boos, and if a guest forgot their toothbrush or deodorant or razor, we have one for them. We keep these very clearly labelled, and on a high shelf away from the kids. We also keep Attie's asthma medication refills here since it is dark, cool, and a good central location.
If you, like me, like to use proper table linens such as placemats and cloth napkins, I have a good solution for storing them. I keep the zip-up plastic pillowcase and curtain panel packages from past purchases. An entire set of napkins will nicely fit inside one. I have ironed all of the linens, and then simply folded the placemats in half within a group of the same style each, and laid them in the basket shown. Then I placed the napkins in the plastic cases and set them on top. All I have to do is grab a package of napkins and a set of placemats to set the table. This keeps them organized and easy to use. The stack next to them are a supply of dishtowels I've picked up on sale and keep on hand to replace the ones that wear out in the kitchen and get tossed in the rag pile.
Finally, don't forget to utilize the floor of your linen closet. We buy our toilet paper in bulk packages, and I hate the plastic wrapping they come in. So, I pull it all out of the package and store it in a basket here on the floor. I can just grab a couple rolls on my way by the closet and place them in whichever bathroom needs to be refilled. Ialso keep my extra boxes of tissues here as well as my unopened bottles of ironing water. When the ironing water I am currently using is gone, I just grab a bottle from here. I buy it several bottles at a time since I order it online. I have very little storage space in my laundry room, so I don't want to clutter it up when I can just as easily store the extra here. The clear bin holds one of my Great Grandmother's quilts that she made. I placed it in here for now because it has a small tear to mend, and I want the rest of it protected until I can fix it. Otherwise, there would be less on the floor here!
I hope this helps give you some ideas for your linen closet organization. I welcome any suggestions you may have for mine as well. Mine is a work in progress, but I think it has a good start. I get a lot of emails asking me how I manage to maintain my home and my housekeeping schedules/routines with four small kids running around. This might help back up my answer: I try to stay organized and ahead of the game so I don't get swallowed up by it all! I have been diagnosed with mild Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and although I don't wash my hands 10,000 times per day, I do need to have things in their place or I literally consume myself thinking about it. If my house isn't clean, I get anxiety attacks. So please don't think I'm actually Bree from Desperate Housewives! I've just found a way to maintain the order in my home to keep myself from going crazy, and found systems that allow me to stick to my routine in order to have things at a standard that makes me satisfied and gives me lots of time to spend with my family instead of scrubbing imaginary spots off the walls!
I probably gave too much information in this post that you all didn't want to read, but I guess you had to find out eventually! I'm not Martha Stewart after all... but then again, I don't have a prison record either!!! Yay!!!!!
